A content analysis of 220 job advertisements that appeared in "College Research Libraries News" between 1973 and 1998 demonstrated that by 1998 all academic libraries jobs routinely included computer technology, that instruction had become an integral part of reference work, and that behavioral skills, especially oral and written communication skills, had emerged as new job requirements.

The Changing Nature of Work in Academic Libraries

A content analysis of 220 job advertisements that appeared in College & Research Libraries between 1973 and 1998 demonstrates that by 1998, all academic library jobs routinely included computer technologies, that instruction had become an integral part of reference work, and that behavioral skills, especially oral and written communication skills, had emerged as new job requirements. The master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA continues to be widely accepted as the appropriate professional degree for academic librarians.

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This 2002 report offers a survey of the methods deployed at leading digital libraries to assess the use and usability of their online collections and services. Focusing on 24 Digital Library Federation member libraries, author Denise Troll Covey conducted numerous interviews with library professionals engaged in assessment.

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Usage and Usability Assessment: Library Practices and Concerns

Purpose – To assess incoming international students' library and computer experience before coming to the US, and to determine their current library needs.Design/methodology/approach – A study was undertaken to assess incoming international students' exposure to libraries, computer literacy skills, and to determine their library needs. Results from a survey conducted in August 2003 include demographic information about incoming students, computer and library use before coming to the US, library concepts that are new to them, and opinions about the library.Findings – Survey results show that international students arrive in the US with high levels of computer literacy and that most incoming students have used a library in their home country. Findings suggest that international students would benefit from specialized library information competence and orientation programs.Research limitations/implications – This study was conducted just over 3 weeks after the Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Library opened its doo...

Incoming international students and the library: a survey

https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1071&context=fimspub

The dilemma of survey nonresponse

Catalogers in academic libraries who belong to ALA’s Technical Services Division were surveyed to determine if and how their job functions have changed over the past ten years. The 271 respondents indicated a change from print to electronic formats, involvement of nonprofessionals in higher levels of cataloging, a trend toward outsourcing (particularly, copy cataloging and foreign-language materials), and more cataloging of specialized items, audiovisual materials, and digital documents by professional librarians. The latter now use their expertise to edit problematic records, engage in managerial tasks, catalog and attempt authority control of Internet resources, do Internet training or Web page design, and use HTML. More and more catalogers are involved in activities formerly in the domain of systems librarians (selecting and implementing catalog products, database maintenance, etc.).

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Catalogers in Academic Libraries: Their Evolving and Expanding Roles.

Reviews the problems posed by international students in higher education in the USA, and some of the difficulties they encounter. Specifically relates these problems to the provision of library services and, more specifically, to bibliographic instruction. Reports on a survey from the University of Toledo to examine foreign students′ background knowledge of academic libraries and to develop a programme to meet the special needs of this multicultural group. Presents specific conclusions and recommendations.

Bibliographic Instruction for International Students in Academic Libraries

Suggests that access to and sharing of information resources are dependent on the automation of library operations and use of computers. Profiles characteristics of libraries in three African countries (Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria), with particular emphasis on the state of the art of technological capabilities. A very small number of libraries have online public access catalogues, and very few of the respondents to the survey reported here indicated that their staff members had an excellent knowledge of computers and computer functions. About 44 per cent of responding libraries own computers, and the most common microcomputer application is local database searching. Lack of funds and training in librarianship are two major problems, though the vast majority of librarians indicated a strong desire to further their education in librarianship. When planning automation, it is important for African librarians and computer scientists to get leaders in authority involved. Resource sharing and co‐operation among libraries need to be given serious consideration.

Profiling African libraries: automation in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria

This study was conducted to learn about the involvement of US academic librarians in local as well as national faculty union activities; their reasons for joining unions; and the benefits they have gained because of their memberships in their unions. It was concluded that librarians who were members of unions generally earned higher salaries than those who were not. Since librarians had on several occasions worked closely with the teaching faculty on various union activities, several close bonds and relationships among them had occurred. Moreover, librarians viewed union membership as a vehicle to become more involved in decision‐making processes at their institutions.

US academic librarians: their involvement in union activities

How have the roles of cataloguers evolved over the past decade due to the impact of automation When cataloguers in academic libraries in England were surveyed it was found that 97 per cent work with a fully automatic online public access catalogue; all catalogue online, and share records with some bibliographic utility, of which RLIN and BLCMP are the most popular. Professional staff size had decreased at 50 per cent of the institutions with means of 4.5 professionals and 4.8 support staff members. The average percentage of professional cataloguers per library was about 53 per cent. Roles that were greatly expanded included cataloguing of digital documents and Internet resources, authority control, and database management. Of the respondents, 65 per cent are now involved in e‐mail discussion groups where ten years ago none were. Administrative functions have also increased as 50 per cent of the cataloguers are now heads of bibliographic access departments.

Rajinder Garcha

Papers

Catalogers in Academic Libraries: Their Evolving and Expanding Roles.

Bibliographic Instruction for International Students in Academic Libraries

Profiling African libraries: automation in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria

US academic librarians: their involvement in union activities

Changing roles of cataloguers in British academic libraries